Sam Altman to return as CEO of OpenAI

OpenAI made this announcement on Twitter and as a part of this, a temporary board will also be formed.

Sam Altman is set to make a comeback as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of OpenAI, shortly after a period of leadership uncertainty. OpenAI, a prominent player in the field of artificial intelligence, has revealed an agreement for Altman's return, accompanied by the formation of a temporary board. The primary responsibility of this board is to select a new permanent board, and it is anticipated that Microsoft will be involved in this process.

Altman's abrupt departure on Friday appeared to be permanent, but the situation quickly evolved. OpenAI swiftly appointed two new CEOs within three days, however, the employees were dissatisfied. They expressed their intention to join Altman at Microsoft if the board did not resign.

Altman and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella have both now tweeted about the deal to return.

We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam Altman to return to OpenAI as CEO with a new initial board of Bret Taylor (Chair), Larry Summers, and Adam D'Angelo.

We are collaborating to figure out the details. Thank you so much for your patience through this.

— OpenAI (@OpenAI) November 22, 2023

i love openai, and everything i’ve done over the past few days has been in service of keeping this team and its mission together. when i decided to join msft on sun evening, it was clear that was the best path for me and the team. with the new board and w satya’s support, i’m…

— Sam Altman (@sama) November 22, 2023

We are encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board. We believe this is a first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance. Sam, Greg, and I have talked and agreed they have a key role to play along with the OAI leadership team in ensuring… https://t.co/djO6Fuz6t9

— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) November 22, 2023

The board did not provide a clear explanation for the dismissal of Altman, despite the potential legal issues. Furthermore, a member of the board, Ilya Sutskever, switched allegiances on Sunday, thereby undermining the remaining three members. Altman's reinstatement is significant for OpenAI and prompts inquiries about the internal happenings within the company.